Keyboard



. 1,616,025 7- B. BURNS KEYBOARD Fild March 17, 1924 4 Sheets-$heet 1 flenmrdfiama Q B. BURNS Feb. 1 1927.

KEYBOARD Filed March 17, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet flenmm' Bums Feb. 1 19 27.

' Bf BURNS KEYBOARD Filed March 17. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Quanta BH NS Feb. 1, 1927.

KEY ARD Filed March 17, 1924 V 4 Sheer.s at 4 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

,UNMED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD BURNS,-OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

KEYBOARD.

Application filed March 17, 1924i Serial No. 699,954.

-My invention relates to key-boards and has for its particular object to provide a keyboard of a supplemental character which may be employed in connection with linotype or other type setting machines or with typewriters or the like whereby the number of keys may be increased and the arrangement of the keys determined without regard to the fixed arrangement of the main keyboard.

When this invention is employed in connection with linotype machines for instance having a double magazine, all of the characters carried in both magazines could be showneliminating the necessity of the operator remembering their position as is customary at present.

With my invention it is possible to maintain a uniform arrangement of key-boards on, for instance, all of the composing ma chines, typewriters or the like in use in any one establishment, irrespective of the keyboard arrangements of the several machines and further to provide means for controlling any of the keys from the side thereby producing a point of influence at a given place.

The construction of the device is such that it may be easily and quickl manufactured and assembled so as to pro uce the desired key-board arrangement and may furthermore be readily attached to the standard types of key-board without any material alteration thereto. V

The invention further consists in the novel combination, construction and arrangement of parts all of which will be more apparent hereinafter as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section of my improved key-board as it appears when employed in connection with the keyboard of a linotype machine;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the key board partly broken away showing the relative positions of the keys of the two key-boards;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4: is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the connecting means between the supplemental and mickey-boards, cartain parts being omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail View;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of construction; and

Figure 8 is a similar view.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts it will be noted that there is illustrated a portion 10 of a machine which constitutes the frame of the key-board. The invention is illustrated as used in connection with the key-board of a linotype machine but as this description proceeds it will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art that its use is not limited to this character of machines but that it may be.

employed with equal facility to all types of compositionand typewriting machines. The reference character 11 indicates the standard keys of a linotype machine which, as shown in F ig. 2, are customarily disposed in a set prearranged order and are furthermore usually arranged in echelon.

The supplemental key-board constituting this invention consists preferably of a frame 12 supporting the supplemental keys and also the operating means between the supplemental and main keys, this frame being adapted to rest upon and be supported by theframe 10 of the machine to which it is attached. For detachably supporting the supplemental frame upon the main frame 10 there is preferably provided at each side of the frame 12 angular clips 13 rigidly secured to the frame 12 and adapted to rest with their angular ends upon the elevator shaft bracket 14 of the machine. In Fig. 7 this construction for one side of the machine is illustrated and itis of course understood that this arrangement is duplicated the other side of the machine at the front thereof. At the rear the frame 12 is extended downwardly at both sides thus producing relatively narrow extensions 15 to which there is secured a second extension 16 notched as at 17. The reference character 18 indicates a guide plate for the main key levers 11 and in positioning the supplemental key-board upon the main key-board the front is first caused. to rest upon the else con vator shaft brackets let previously described whereupon the notches 17 of the extension 16 are caused to engage the edge of the key lever guide plate 18 whereupon the supplemental keyboard is held rigidly in place. It should be noted that each eXtension of the frame 12 has the end 19 thereof angularly disposed to act as stops to limit the downward movement of the supplemental key-board.

Arranged longitudinally of the frame 12 are a plurality of shafts 20 adapted to support the keys 21 constituting the supple mental key board. While each longitudinal row of keys is mounted on a common shaft 20 each of these keys is operable independently and for this purpose the keys '21 are loosely ni'ou'n't'edbn the shafts 20. While this invention contemplates akey-board with seven longitudinal rows of keys this number may be" altere'd or changed as circumstancesand requirei'nentsdictate. In 3 the lower niost shaft 20 supports the space bar 22 which preferably extends the entire longitudinal length of the key-board.

Also arranged longitudinally of the "frame 12 is a pair of supporting rods 23' and upon these rods there is adapted to be positioned a plurality of bars 24. These bars are preferably arranged in groupsot six in number and supported on edge upon the bars 23 whereby they may be longitudinally displacedtransversely with reference to the frame 12. I These bars are arranged in groups of six, when the ke -board is used in connection With a linotype machine because the main keys ofthe linotype machine are arranged in six longitudinal rows. The bars24 are adapted to be longitudinally displaced by means of the keys 21 and for this purpose these bars are each provided with a pin 25adapted't o be engaged by the depending projection 26 of the associated key 21. It should be noted that the depending fla ge or projection 26 of each key 21' is of suiiici'ent Width to engage a pin 25 on any one of the group of six bars 24st) that the universality of the machine and the ease Withwhich it may beassembled to suit the particular requirements is insured.

Fori the purpose of adjusting the machine to different touches there isprovided adjat the rear A of the frame 12 a butter pass through the frame 12 and are provided'each with anut 29. The rods 28 freely thro'ugh the frame 12 and a coil spring 30 is arranged. on each rod 28 between" the returning to 110111131 position,

supportediby.means of rods 28 vhicli' Also mounted longitudinally of the frame 12 are a plurality of rods 31, these rods being preferably ninety in number. It is upon these rods that the levers affording connection between the supplemental and main keys are mounted. By reference to Fig. 4 the construction and arrangement of the operating levers will be more readily apparent. In this figure only certain of the keys 21 bars 24 and rods 31 have been illustrated. The connection between a key 21 and a key ll'is constituted, in addition to the parts al ready recited, by a bell crank lever 32 mounted on a'rod 31' and engaging with its upper end a notch'33 inabar2'dp A secondb'ell crank lever 34: also attached to the rod 31'ensages with its'tree end the keyll'to be operated. Thus Wh'en'thef key 21 isdepressed the bar 24 is displaced in thc direction of arrow A in}? l W'l'rere'upon the bell crank lever 32 is rocked in the direction 01. arrow B, this rocking motion being transmitted through the rod 31 to the bell crank lever 34 which 'is rocked in the direction of arrow {1 whereupon the key 11'is depressed. As mentioned hereinbetore' the buffer bar 27 will assist in'ret u'rning the parts to'no'rmal position but this return movement is dependent arg-ely upon gravity;

It is to be understood that the bars 24; are arranged in groups of six and'that the depending flanges 26 ofthe keys 21 are of sufficient Width to engagethe' projecting" pin 25 otany one of the associated group of bars therefore, inasmuch as each bar Qdmaybe notched pposite any of the longitudinal rods and turthern'iore inasmuch as the bell'crank lever 3 may placed at any longitudinal position on any of the bars 31 it is possible from any key 21 to actuate any main key 11. Therefore, in assembling the supplemental. key-board any desired arrange ment the supplemental keys may he resorted to irrespective of the main key-board arrangement. Furthermore, additional control may be provided by adding new keys 21, additional iars 2d and additional bell cra levers 32. .lhus duplicate or even triplicate control of the important keys of the main key-board is possible from any de sired point of the supplemental key-board.

The universality of the supplemental keyboard a'ni'l'the number or" key-board arrangenients of wh ch the same is capable thus pro- (lucingthe desired combination or position of keys is quite obvions'when it is remenn beled that here are ninety of the rods 31 with a similar number of hell crank levers 32, thus giving ninety positions. There are ninety of the bars 2st suitably notched for cohnection With any of the hell crank levers 32, thus giving ninety positions. The depending projection 26 of each key 21 is capable of engaging any: one or" the six associated bars 24} thus" producing six positions so that the number of positions possible may be computed as ninety times ninety times six.

Obviously, the supplemental key-board may be extended out beyond the frame on the right so that suflicient keys may be added to render possible any practical key-board arrangement. However, without extending the ke -board beyond the dimensions shown in the drawing, it is thought that the supplemental key-board will contain enough keys for all practical purposes. The space bar illustrated at 22 is connected to the bar 24 and bell crank levers to actuate the main space bar in the customary manner.

From the foregoing it will be immediately apparent that l have provided a supplemental key-board which may be cheaply and durably manufactured and easily attached to standard types of key-boards without materially altering the construction of the same. The supplemental key-board is so arranged as to facilitate assembling whereupon the obects of the invention may be accomplished and furthermore the parts thereof may be readily replaced so that the same may be kept in perfect condition. The weight of the operative connections between the supplemental and main keys is borne by the frame and not by the main keys so that the operation of the linotype or other machine is not impaired in the'least.

ll hile one embodiment of my invention has been described and illustrated herein in some detail, it is not intended that my invention be unnecessarily limited but reservation is made to make such changes as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatclaim is:

1. The combination with a key-board comprising a plurality of main keys, of a supplemental key-board including a plurality of supplemental keys, a frame, a plurality of rods mounted in said frames, and means including a plurality of bell crank levers adjustably iounted on said rods for operating said main keys by said supplemental k ys whereby a plurality of key-board combinations are possible.

The combination with a key-board including a plurality of main keys, of a suppl emental key-board, said supplemental keyboard comprising a frame, a plurality of supplemental keys supported thereon, a plurality of longitudinally extending rods mounted in said frame, a plurality of trans versely arranged bars, operated by said supplemental keys. and means carried by said rods and operated. by said bars for actuating said main keys, said means being adjustable whereby a plurality of key-board combinations are possible.

3. The combination with a. key-board including a plurality of main keys, of'a sup plemental key-board, said supplemental keyboard comprising a frame, a plurality of supplemental keys supported thereon, a plurality of longitudinally extending rods mounted in said frame, a plurality of transversely arranged bars operated by said supplemental keys,.and bell crank levers carried by said rods and operated by said bars for actuating said main keys, said means being adjustable whereby a plurality of keyboard combinations are possible.

4. The combination with a key-board including a plurality of main keys, of a supplemental keyboard comprising a frame, a plurality of supplemental keys mounted on said frame, a plurality of longitudinally arranged rods supported by said frame, a plurality of groups of transversely arranged bars slidably mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said supplemental keys to said bars for displacing the same transversely to said frame, and bell crank levers mounted on said longitudinally arranged rods and engaging said bars and main keys whereby said main keys may be operated by said supplemental. keys.

5. The combination with a key-board including a plurality of main keys,'of a supplemental key-board comprising a. frame, a plurality of supplemental keys mounted on said frame, a plurality of longitudinally arranged rods supported by said frame, a plurality of groups of transversely arranged bars slidably mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said supplemental keys to said bars for displacing the same transversely to said frame, a plurality of bell crank levers mounted on said rods and engaging said bars, and a plurality of additional bell crank levers mounted on said rods and engaging saidmain keys as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination with a key-board in cluding a plurality of main keys, of a supplemental key-board comprising a frame, a plurality of supplemental keys mounted on said frame, a plurality of longitudinally arranged rods supported by said frame, a plurality of groups of transversely arranged bars slidably mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said supplemental keys to said bars for displacing the same transversely to said frame, said. bars being notched, a plurality of bell crank levers mounted on said rods and engaging the notches in said bars, whereby said main keys may be actuated by depressing said supplemental keys.

7. The combination with a keyboard including a plurality of main keys, of a supplemental key-board comprising a frame, a

plurality of supplemental keys mounted on said frame, a plurality of longitudinally arranged rods supported by said frame, a plurality of groups of transversely arranged bars slidably= mounted on said frame, means operatively connecting said supplemental keys to said bars for displacingthesame transversely to SfllCbfl'flIl'lG, said bars being notched, a plurality of bell crank levers slidably adjustable on said-rods and engaging the notches in said bars, whereby said main keys may be actuated by depressing said supplemental keys in dependence upon the adjusted position of saidlevers.

Theforegoing specification signed at Toronto, Canada, this 11th day of February,

BERNARD BURNS. 

